Eye pain is a common complaint and can be very uncomfortable. Because pain in the eye can arise from many different causes, its treatment and the time it takes to resolve also vary according to the cause. Both of your eyes may hurt at the same time, but you may also experience pain only in your right or left eye.
We can divide eye pain into two categories based on where it occurs:
- Pain located on the surface of the eye is called “ocular pain”. Usually caused by a foreign body or infection, this type of pain is generally resolved with simple treatments such as eye drops and rest.
- Pain felt deeper in the eye is called orbital pain, and depending on the diagnosis, it may require more extensive treatment.
What Causes Eye Pain?
The causes of eye pain, from simple to serious, can be listed as follows:
- Refractive errors
- Dry eye
- Eye infections and inflammations
- Intraocular inflammation
- Glaucoma (raised eye pressure)
- Eye tumours
In addition to eye diseases, sinusitis, migraine, stress and tension-type headache are also common, and although not directly related to the eye, they can also be experienced as pain in the eye.
When treating, identifying the cause of eye pain and directing treatment at that cause is very important.
- FOREIGN BODY ENTERING THE EYE OR LIQUID SPLASHES: A foreign body such as dust, an eyelash, make-up or even a piece of glass entering the eye, or splashes of chemical liquids such as bleach or cream, are among the most common causes of eye pain.
In such cases — which cause irritation, redness and pain in the eye — the correct course of action is to rinse the eye with water or saline only, without rubbing or any other intervention, and to consult an ophthalmologist without delay. In particular, removal of any sharp object that has penetrated the eye should be left strictly to an ophthalmologist.
- INFECTION: One of the most common eye infections is conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the tissue under the eyelid caused by allergies, bacteria or viruses. It manifests as discharge, redness, itching, mild swelling and crusting.
Another type of infection is, in everyday language, a stye.
For both infections, treatment is provided with drops and/or creams recommended by the doctor. You can also help clear blocked oil glands by applying warm, moist cotton wool to the eye.
Serious inflammations of the outer layers of the eye, such as episcleritis and scleritis, can also be painful.
- DRY EYE: Screens such as phones, computers and televisions, to which we are exposed for a significant part of our daily life, can cause dry eye. Very dry air and menopause in women also trigger dry eye. Dry eye, which causes a “stinging” type of pain, can be treated with artificial-tear drops. To prevent recurrence, limiting screen time, resting the eyes at frequent intervals or using filters will provide a solution.
- IMPROPER USE OF CONTACT LENSES: Not removing contact lenses while sleeping, when swimming in the sea or in a pool, and failing to clean them properly cause irritation in the eyes of contact-lens wearers. In such cases, it is correct to take a break from wearing lenses, as directed by the doctor, until the eye recovers.
- CORNEAL ABRASION: Trauma-related damage to the transparent front surface of the eye — the cornea — is very painful. Along with the pain, it causes redness, watering, sensitivity to light and blurred vision. This situation also makes the eye more vulnerable to infection. In the case of a corneal scratch, abrasion or tear, you must consult a doctor. It can be treated with antibiotic drops and patching.
Causes and Treatment of Orbital Eye Pain
- REFRACTIVE ERROR: Myopes who cannot see distance, or hyperopes who cannot see near, strain their eyes to see clearly. This strain leads to pain in the form of pressure around the eyes and at the temples. In this case, we have also answered the frequently asked question “can a refractive error cause a headache?”. Appropriate glasses or contact lenses determined after an eye examination will end the pain.
- GLAUCOMA (RAISED EYE PRESSURE): Elevated intraocular pressure can cause nausea, headache and vision loss, as well as eye pain. Glaucoma is treated with eye drops that lower intraocular pressure, with laser procedures or with surgery. Because it can lead to permanent vision loss, you must consult a doctor.
- INTRAOCULAR INFLAMMATIONS: Optic neuritis — inflammation of the optic nerve located behind the eyeball and connected to the brain, caused by an autoimmune disease or an infection — can cause eye pain along with vision loss. In this case, a comprehensive immune-system-strengthening treatment should be followed.
Iritis or iridocyclitis, caused by inflammation of the iris, also causes pain in the eye. This is a form of uveitis. It is treated with eye drops. Because uveitis can be caused by another condition in the body, the patient must also be referred to a rheumatologist.
- EYE TUMOURS: Tumours that develop behind the eye cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, changes in the colour of the iris, distortion of the pupil, vision loss and pain. Depending on the location and type of the tumour, surgical intervention, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and laser treatment may be applied either separately or in combination.
Eye Pain Caused by Non-Ocular Reasons
- SINUSITIS OR MIGRAINE: A sinus infection can be perceived as eye pain because it increases pressure behind the eyes. Similarly, migraine pain produces an overall pain that includes the eye. In such cases, treatment directed at the source will provide a more lasting result. In the initial phase, a simple analgesic can be taken.
How Does Eye Pain Clear?
We have outlined the appropriate treatments based on the cause of eye pain above.
- In situations where you need to look at a screen for long periods, rest your eyes every 20 minutes by closing them or looking into the distance.
- When reading, make sure the lighting is sufficient and suitable.
- If you wear contact lenses, give your corneas a rest by wearing glasses now and then. Carry out the routine care of your lenses diligently, without neglect.
- Always wear suitable sunglasses in sunny weather and never look directly at the sun.
- In situations where something could enter your eye — for example, when doing sports, at the beach, when mowing the lawn, when using detergents, when working with spring-loaded devices or when opening a bottle of carbonated water — take precautions to protect your eyes.
- Remember that healthy eating and 8 hours of regular sleep per day, in addition to many other benefits, are also very important for eye health.
What Helps Eye Pain?
If you have eye pain despite looking after your eyes meticulously, the cause must first be identified. For simple eye pain, you can take measures yourself such as closing the eye for a period of rest, rinsing with water or saline to remove an object that has entered, or applying a non-pressing compress with cotton wool moistened with warm water.
For pain not directly related to the eye, you can relieve the pain with a simple analgesic. However, do not neglect measures that address the cause so that it does not recur.
When Should You See a Doctor for Eye Pain?
For persistent eye pain — and particularly in the situations listed below — it is essential to be examined by an ophthalmologist.
- If eye pain is accompanied by vision loss
- If eye pain is accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
- If the eye is too painful to touch
- If you are experiencing sudden changes in your vision
What Happens If Eye Pain Is Not Treated?
Most eye pain can be relieved with rest or simple treatment. The conditions causing the pain, if untreated, can rarely but possibly cause permanent damage to the eye. For example, glaucoma is a very serious problem that must be treated.
We wish you pain-free, brilliantly clear vision!
Prepared by the Editorial Board of the Eye Foundation Hospitals.
